MIL '96 V8 Cerb.... uh oh, is this airflow sensor problem?

[nadirv8]

Well, seeing as this is my first post - hello all! I've been reading on pistonheads for about 2 years now after TVRs became my fave car. I'm now an owner of a '96 black 4.2l cerb.

Now, the issue:

Yesterday driving back from work it started fine and let it warm up for a while before leaving the carpark. Couple of hundred yards down the road it felt like the engine was refusing the correct fuel amount it needed - the car was engine braking even with my foot on the pedal in the same place. Gave it a sharp blip and it woke up again... no MIL light at this point. Then at a set of lights the car just stalled. Started it up again keeping the RPM at about 1400 and after about 3 seconds just cut out again. (worried look) Eventually after cutting out 8 or so times i managed to get to the motorway constantly blipping the throttle when the car was stationary in traffic - needless to say this was a homing beacon for some boyracer in a Astra... Zzzzz. On the sliproad gave it welly... got to 130mph before reaching the motorway without to much issue. Crusing speed was fine. Then back to the stop-and-go traffic near home kept cutting out again...

The MIL light came on this morning after I took the airflow sensor out and tried to clean it.

Diagnosis: Stationary the car splutters loads and cuts out unless blipping the throttle or keeping the rpm about 2500. at 40mph+ in neutral the engine idles perfectly at 900rpm. The air filter could do with a change but isn't too gunked up.

Does anone have advice or should i get hold of a new airflow(mass) sensor? Also, is would the Bosch sensor work... mine looks to be an older Cerbera air-flow version.

Thanks,
Dave

>> Edited by nadirv8 on Wednesday 24th May 10:26

[raceproved]

There isn't an aiflow sensor/meter on the Cerb - it uses throttle angle to measure engine load (gives better throttle response). There is a MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor in the passenger dash space, but that is only used to correct for ambient air pressure changes.

It sounde like you have damaged the intake air temperature sensor, found in the airbox above the radiator.

Try a dealer / indie for advice. I think Track Car Solutions and Clever Trevor Parts stock the air temp sensor, should you need one in a hurry.

[mark.rowe]

Do you mean the air temperature sensor on the left hand air intake?
I didn't think they had air flow meters but I could be wrong.

There are two throttle potentiometers on each bank too.

Was it raining heavily when this happened?

When I first got mine I had similar trouble every time it pissed down!
Maybe some waters got onto the lambda sensors?

I had a similar problem and ended up with a new wiring loom fitted in the end, after various other things etc new coils, new leads, new lambda sensors.....luckily all under warenty!

[nadirv8]

Oops yes, my bad. Its the sensor on the left air intake - temp sensor as you pointed out. Right, so that would need to be replaced to possibly extinguish the MIL warning light.

Any idea where the lambda sensor is? It may be worth checking if theres been leakage.

As it happens I have been driving loads recently (due to other cars starter being broken) and all this rubbish weather may be leading to the same issue you've had! As far as I can tell the leads are in good condition with no corrosion... hmm.

[350matt]

sounds like you need a copy of the diagnostic software, that'll tell you whats up - mabye

Matt

[nadirv8]

Right, its been a couple of weeks now. Started up and drove round on Saturday fine with no spluttering at slow speeds - this must be due to something getting wet with all the rain we had, now finally dried out. The MIL light extinguished when I sorted the heat sensor on the air intake.
Thanks very much for the advise

Went to Henley on Thames yesterday! NICE

Edited by nadirv8 on Monday 5th June 11:24